Terms : Hide Images
| 11122874198 | behaviorism | the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2). | 0 | |
| 11122874199 | cognitive neuroscience | the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language). | 1 | |
| 11122874200 | empiricism | the view that knowledge originates in experience and that science should, therefore, rely on observation and experimentation. | 2 | |
| 11122874201 | experimental psychology | the study of behavior and thinking using the experimental method. | 3 | |
| 11122874202 | functionalism | early school of thought promoted by James and influenced by Darwin; explored how mental and behavioral processes function--how they enable the organism to adapt, survive, and flourish. | 4 | |
| 11122874203 | humanistic psychology | a historically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy people. | 5 | |
| 11122874204 | psychology | the science of behavior and mental processes. | 6 | |
| 11122874205 | structuralism | early school of thought promoted by Wundt and Titchener; used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind. | 7 | |
| 11122874206 | applied research | scientific study that aims to solve practical problems | 8 | |
| 11122874207 | industrial-organizational (I/O) psychology | the application of psychological concepts and methods to optimizing human behavior in workplaces | 9 | |
| 11122874208 | behavioral psychology | the scientific study of observable behavior, and its explanation by principles of learning | 10 | |
| 11122874209 | levels of analysis | the differing complementary views, from biological to psychological to social-cultural, for analyzing any given phenomenon | 11 | |
| 11122874210 | biopsychosocial approach | an integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis | 12 | |
| 11122874211 | natural selection | the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations | 13 | |
| 11122874212 | cognitive psychology | the scientific study of all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating | 14 | |
| 11122874213 | nature-nurture issue | the longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors. Today's science sees traits and behaviors arising from the interaction of nature and nurture. | 15 | |
| 11122874214 | counseling psychology | a branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living (often related to school, work, or marriage) and in achieving greater well-being | 16 | |
| 11122874215 | personality psychology | the study of an individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting | 17 | |
| 11122874216 | educational psychology | the study of how psychological processes affect and can enhance teaching and learning. | 18 | |
| 11122874217 | positive psychology | the scientific study of human functioning, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive. | 19 | |
| 11122874218 | human factors psychology | an I/O psychology subfield that explores how people and machines interact and how machines and physical environments can be made safe and easy to use. | 20 | |
| 11122874219 | psychiatry | a branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical (for example, drug) treatments as well as psychological therapy. | 21 | |
| 11122874220 | biological psychology | the scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes. (Some biological psychologists call themselves behavioral neuroscientists, neuropsychologists, behavior geneticists, physiological psychologists, or biopsychologists.) | 22 | |
| 11122874221 | psychodynamic psychology | a branch of psychology that studies how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior, and uses that information to treat people with psychological disorders. | 23 | |
| 11122874222 | basic research | pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base. | 24 | |
| 11122874223 | clinical psychology | a branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders. | 25 | |
| 11122874224 | community psychology | a branch of psychology that studies how people interact with their social environments and how social institutions affect individuals and groups. | 26 | |
| 11122874225 | developmental psychology | a branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span. | 27 | |
| 11122874226 | evolutionary psychology | the study of the evolution of behavior and mind, using principles of natural selection. | 28 | |
| 11122874227 | psychometrics | the scientific study of the measurement of human abilities, attitudes, and traits. | 29 | |
| 11122874228 | social psychology | the scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another. | 30 | |
| 11122874229 | social-cultural psychology | the study of how situations and cultures affect our behavior and thinking. | 31 | |
| 11122874230 | SQ3R | a study method incorporating five steps: Survey, Question, Read, Retrieve, Review. | 32 | |
| 11122874231 | testing effect | enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading, information. Also sometimes referred to as a retrieval practice effect or test-enhanced learning. | 33 | |
| 11122874232 | achievement motivation | a desire for significant accomplishment; for mastery of skills or ideas; for control; and for attaining a high standard. | 34 | |
| 11122874233 | flow | a completely involved, focused state of consciousness, with diminished awareness of self and time, resulting from optimal engagement of one's skills. | 35 | |
| 11122874234 | grit | in psychology, grit is passion and perseverance in the pursuit of long-term goals. | 36 | |
| 11122874235 | industrial-organizational (I/O) psychology | the application of psychological concepts and methods to optimizing human behavior in workplaces. | 37 | |
| 11122874236 | organizational psychology | an I/O psychology subfield that examines organizational influences on worker satisfaction and productivity and facilitates organizational change. | 38 | |
| 11122874237 | personnel psychology | an I/O psychology subfield that focuses on employee recruitment, selection, placement, training, appraisal, and development. | 39 | |
| 11122874238 | social leadership | group-oriented leadership that builds teamwork, mediates conflict, and offers support. | 40 | |
| 11122874239 | structured interviews | an interview process that asks the same job-relevant questions of all applicants, each of whom is rated on established scales. | 41 | |
| 11122874240 | task leadership | goal-oriented leadership that sets standards, organizes work, and focuses attention on goals. | 42 | |
| 11122874241 | critical thinking | thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions. | 43 | |
| 11122874242 | hindsight bias | the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it. | 44 | |
| 11122874243 | case study | a descriptive technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles. | 45 | |
| 11122874244 | hypothesis | a testable prediction, often implied by a theory. | 46 | |
| 11122874245 | naturalistic observation | observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation. | 47 | |
| 11122874246 | operational definition | a carefully worded statement of the exact procedures (operations) used in a research study. For example, human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures. | 48 | |
| 11122874247 | population | all those in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn. (Note: Except for national studies, this does not refer to a country's whole population.) | 49 | |
| 11122874248 | random sample | a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion. | 50 | |
| 11122874249 | replication | repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and circumstances. | 51 | |
| 11122874250 | sampling bias | a flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample | 52 | |
| 11122874251 | survey | a technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group. | 53 | |
| 11122874252 | theory | an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events. | 54 | |
| 11122874253 | confounding variable | a factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment. | 55 | |
| 11122874254 | experimental group | in an experiment, the group exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable. | 56 | |
| 11122874255 | illusory correlation | the perception of a relationship where none exists. | 57 | |
| 11122874256 | dependent variable | the outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable. | 58 | |
| 11122874257 | double-blind procedure | an experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo. Commonly used in drug-evaluation studies. | 59 | |
| 11122874258 | experiment | a research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process (the dependent variable). By random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other relevant variables. | 60 | |
| 11122874259 | control group | in an experiment, the group not exposed to the treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment. | 61 | |
| 11122874260 | correlation | a statistical index of the relationship between two variables (from -1.0 to +1.0). | 62 | |
| 11122874261 | random assignment | assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between the different groups. | 63 | |
| 11122874262 | independent variable | The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied. | 64 | |
| 11122874356 | placebo effect | 65 | ||
| 11122874263 | scatterplot | a graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables. The slope of the points suggests the direction of the relationship between the two variables. The amount of scatter suggests the strength of the correlation | 66 | |
| 11122874264 | validity | the extent to which a test measures or predicts what it is supposed to. | 67 | |
| 11122874265 | descriptive statistics | numerical data used to measure and describe characteristics of groups. Includes measures of central tendency and measures of variation. | 68 | |
| 11122874266 | mode | the most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution. | 69 | |
| 11122874267 | inferential statistics | numerical data that allow one to generalize--to infer from sample data the probability of something being true of a population. | 70 | |
| 11122874268 | mean | the arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores. | 71 | |
| 11122874269 | median | the middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it. | 72 | |
| 11122874270 | histogram | a bar graph depicting a frequency distribution. | 73 | |
| 11122874271 | normal curve (normal distribution) | a symmetrical, bell-shaped curve that describes the distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean (about 68 percent fall within one standard deviation of it) and fewer and fewer near the extremes. | 74 | |
| 11122874272 | range | the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution. | 75 | |
| 11122874273 | skewed distribution | a representation of scores that lack symmetry around their average value. | 76 | |
| 11122874274 | standard deviation | a computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score. | 77 | |
| 11122874275 | statistical significance | a statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance. | 78 | |
| 11122874276 | culture | the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next. | 79 | |
| 11122874277 | debriefing | the postexperimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants. | 80 | |
| 11122874278 | informed consent | an ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate. | 81 | |
| 11122874279 | action potential | a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon. | 82 | |
| 11122874280 | endorphins | "morphine within"--natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure. | 83 | |
| 11122874281 | all-or-none response | a neuron's reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing. | 84 | |
| 11122874282 | myelin sheath | a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next. | 85 | |
| 11122874283 | axon | the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands. | 86 | |
| 11122874284 | neuron | a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system. | 87 | |
| 11122874285 | dendrites | a neuron's bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body. | 88 | |
| 11122874286 | agonist | a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response. | 89 | |
| 11122874287 | antagonist | a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, inhibits or blocks a response. | 90 | |
| 11122874288 | biological psychology | the scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes. (Some biological psychologists call themselves behavioral neuroscientists, neuropsychologists, behavior geneticists, physiological psychologists, or biopsychologists.) | 91 | |
| 11122874289 | neurotransmitters | chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse. | 92 | |
| 11122874290 | refractory period | a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired. | 93 | |
| 11122874291 | reuptake | a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron. synapse [SIN-aps] | 94 | |
| 11122874292 | synapse | the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft. | 95 | |
| 11122874293 | threshold | the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse. | 96 | |
| 11122874294 | adrenal glands | a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress. | 97 | |
| 11122874295 | nervous system | the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems. | 98 | |
| 11122874296 | central nervous system (CNS) | the brain and spinal cord. | 99 | |
| 11122874297 | parasympathetic nervous system | the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy. | 100 | |
| 11122874298 | hormones | chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues. | 101 | |
| 11122874299 | peripheral nervous system (PNS) | the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body. | 102 | |
| 11122874300 | motor (efferent) neurons | neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands. | 103 | |
| 11122874301 | nerves | bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs. | 104 | |
| 11122874302 | autonomic nervous system (ANS) | the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms. | 105 | |
| 11122874303 | endocrine system | the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream. | 106 | |
| 11122874304 | interneurons | neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs. | 107 | |
| 11122874305 | pituitary gland | the endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands. | 108 | |
| 11122874306 | reflex | a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response. | 109 | |
| 11122874307 | sensory (afferent) neurons | neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord. | 110 | |
| 11122874308 | somatic nervous system | the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles. (Also called the skeletal nervous system.) | 111 | |
| 11122874309 | sympathetic nervous system | the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations. | 112 | |
| 11122874310 | amygdala | two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion. | 113 | |
| 11122874311 | lesion | tissue destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue. | 114 | |
| 11122874312 | cerebellum | the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory. | 115 | |
| 11122874313 | limbic system | neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives. | 116 | |
| 11122874314 | electroencephalogram (EEG) | an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp. | 117 | |
| 11122874315 | fMRI (functional MRI) | a technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function as well as its structure. | 118 | |
| 11122874316 | hypothalamus | a neural structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward. | 119 | |
| 11122874317 | brainstem | the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions. | 120 | |
| 11122874318 | CT (computed tomography) scan | a series of X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain's structure. (Also called CAT scan.) | 121 | |
| 11122874319 | medulla | the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing. | 122 | |
| 11122874320 | MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) | a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy. | 123 | |
| 11122874321 | PET (positron emission tomography) scan | a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task. | 124 | |
| 11122874322 | reticular formation | a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal. | 125 | |
| 11122874323 | thalamus | the brain's sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla. | 126 | |
| 11122874324 | association areas | areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking. | 127 | |
| 11122874325 | neurogenesis | the formation of new neurons. | 128 | |
| 11122874326 | frontal lobes | portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments. | 129 | |
| 11122874327 | glial cells (glia) | cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning and thinking. | 130 | |
| 11122874328 | motor cortex | an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements. | 131 | |
| 11122874329 | cerebral cortex | the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center. | 132 | |
| 11122874330 | occipital lobes | portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields. | 133 | |
| 11122874331 | parietal lobes | portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position. | 134 | |
| 11122874332 | plasticity | the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience. | 135 | |
| 11122874333 | somatosensory cortex | area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations. | 136 | |
| 11122874334 | temporal lobes | portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear. | 137 | |
| 11122874335 | cognitive neuroscience | the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language). | 138 | |
| 11122874336 | consciousness | our awareness of ourselves and our environment. | 139 | |
| 11122874337 | corpus callosum | the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them. | 140 | |
| 11122874338 | dual processing | the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks. | 141 | |
| 11122874339 | split brain | a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them. | 142 | |
| 11122874340 | behavior genetics | the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior. | 143 | |
| 11122874341 | genes | the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins. | 144 | |
| 11122874342 | DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) | a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes. | 145 | |
| 11122874343 | environment | every external influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us. | 146 | |
| 11122874344 | epigenetics | the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change. | 147 | |
| 11122874345 | fraternal twins (dizygotic twins) | twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than brothers and sisters, but they share a fetal environment. | 148 | |
| 11122874346 | chromosomes | threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes. | 149 | |
| 11122874347 | genome | the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes. | 150 | |
| 11122874348 | heritability | the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. The heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied. | 151 | |
| 11122874349 | identical twins (monozygotic twins) | twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms. | 152 | |
| 11122874350 | interaction | the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity). | 153 | |
| 11122874351 | molecular genetics | the subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes. | 154 | |
| 11122874352 | evolutionary psychology | the study of the evolution of behavior and mind, using principles of natural selection. | 155 | |
| 11122874353 | mutation | a random error in gene replication that leads to a change. | 156 | |
| 11122874354 | natural selection | the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations. | 157 | |
| 11122993288 | heritability | the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. The heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied. | 158 | |
| 11122998188 | genome | the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes. | 159 | |
| 11123005808 | mutation | a random error in gene replication that leads to a change. | 160 |
